A Phase IV, Open-label, Post Marketing, Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Multicentre, Multinational Study to Investigate Tailoring of Recombinant FSH Use in Ovulation Stimulation Treatment in Chronic Anovulatory Subjects (WHO Group II)
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 310
- Locations
- 3
- Primary Endpoint
- Percentage of Participants With a Mono-follicular Development
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This is an open-label, prospective, randomized, controlled, multicentric, multinational, phase IV study to evaluate the use of Gonal-f in inducing ovulation in female subjects with chronic anovulation. It has been observed that conventional high dose set up regimen of gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is effective in anovulatory subjects in terms of overall pregnancy rates. However, development of multiple follicles leading to multiple pregnancy and/or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is the major complications associated with this high dose set up. Chronic low-dose (CLD) protocols of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), aimed at finding the threshold amount of FSH necessary to promote monofolliculogenesis, have been found to be successful in reducing the rate of OHSS almost to nil and the rate of multiple pregnancies to a minimum. This post-marketing study will investigate tailoring of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (r-FSH) in a large population (N=310) of subjects from a region (North Africa/Middle East) that has not been included in previous studies of ovulation induction in subjects with chronic anovulation. The study aims to increase current knowledge of the efficacy and safety of Gonal-f, and provide fertility physicians with experience in Gonal-f treatment in anovulatory infertility, thereby contributing to the development of FSH dosing guidelines for ovulation induction by defining the optimal CLD and Low dose (LD) regimens.
Detailed Description
Gonal-f is a recombinant form of human FSH (r-hFSH), an endogenous gonadotropin which is being produced in genetically engineered chinese hamster ovary cells and is indicated for induction of ovulation and pregnancy in anovulatory infertile women in whom the cause of infertility is functional and not due to primary ovarian failure. It is also indicated for the development of multiple follicles in ovulatory women participating in an assisted reproductive technology (ART) programme, such as in in vitro fertilization (IVF). The primary cause of infertility in women is an abnormality of ovulation. Most of these anovulatory subjects fall into the World Health Organization (WHO) Group II category, characterized by asynchronous gonadotropin and oestrogen production and normal levels of prolactin (PRL). These subjects present with a variety of menstrual disorders, most commonly polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Gonal-f is administered as a course of daily injections, subcutaneously into the anterior abdominal wall. A commonly used regimen commences at 75-150 IU FSH daily and is increased preferably by 37.5 IU, or 75 IU at 7 or preferably 14 day intervals if necessary, to obtain an adequate but not excessive response. A single injection of 5,000 IU urinary hCG (u-hCG) (or 250 microgram [mcg] r-hCG) should be administered after the last dose of Gonal-f and when the leading follicle has reached 17 mm in diameter. The subject is later recommended to have coitus on the day of, and the day following, hCG administration. The efficacy of Gonal-f in the treatment of WHO Group II anovulatory infertile women has been confirmed by 2 randomized, open-label, multicentric, phase III non-inferiority studies that compared Gonal-f with Metrodin® (urinary FSH) for ovulation induction. The possible serious adverse events (SAEs) associated with Gonal-f include OHSS and its possible complications, multiple pregnancies, pregnancy wastage, ectopic pregnancies and the possible risk of ovarian cancer and reproductive system neoplasms (e.g. endometrial, breast carcinoma).
OBJECTIVES
Primary objective:
- To investigate tailoring of recombinant FSH treatment in subjects with chronic anovulation
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 37 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- Female
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Premenopausal female subjects, aged between 18 and 37 years inclusive
- •Subjects willing to conceive
- •Subjects who are infertile due to chronic anovulation demonstrated by a cycle duration of > 35 days, or regular cycles with progesterone (P4) levels < 1 nanomole/milliliter (nmol/mL) during luteal phase (Day 25)
- •Subjects who have experienced spontaneous menses, menses induced by clomiphene citrate therapy, or a positive progestin-induced withdrawal within the previous year
- •Subjects with FSH and PRL serum values within the normal range in the early follicular phase
- •Subjects with total antral follicle count (AFC) > 10 (of follicle size ≥ 2 mm and < 11 mm) in both ovaries
- •Subjects with at least 1 patent tube, as documented by recent (within 2 years before treatment assignment) hysterosalpingography (HSG)
- •Subjects with normal uterine cavity, as documented by recent (within 2 years before treatment assignment) hysteroscopy, HSG or ultrasound scan
- •Subjects with body mass index (BMI) >20 and ≤32 kilogram square per meter (kg/m^2)
- •Subjects with negative cervical Papanicolaou (PAP) test within the 6 months prior to screening
- •Male partners of female subjects with sperm compatible with non assisted fertilization
- •Subjects who are willing and able to participate in the study and have provided written, informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
- •Subjects with history of hypersensitivity to the active substance follitropin alpha, FSH, or to any of the excipients of Gonal-f
- •Subjects with ovarian enlargement or ovarian cyst unrelated to PCOS, and of unknown origin on ultrasound
- •Subjects with evidence of diminished ovarian reserve (cycle length < 26 days; FSH above the upper limit of local serum FSH values, total AFC in both ovaries < 10)
- •Subjects with myomatous uterus, which in the opinion of the investigator could impair pregnancy evolution
- •Subjects who have undergone 3 or more previous miscarriages
- •Subjects with any previous extrauterine pregnancy
- •Pregnant or lactating female subjects
- •Subjects with abnormal gynecological bleeding of unknown etiology
- •Subjects with previous history of severe OHSS
- •Subjects who have undergone operative pelvic surgery which could induce mechanical infertility (e.g tubes blockage) or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) before treatment assignment excluding curettage and hysteroscopy
- •Subjects with tumors of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland
- •Subjects with ovarian, uterine or mammary carcinoma
- •Subjects treated with clomiphene citrate or gonadotropins within 1 month of the screening evaluation
- •Subjects with any medical condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would prevent an effective response, such as primary ovarian failure, or malformations of the reproductive organs incompatible with pregnancy
- •Subjects with any medical condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of the drug
- •Subjects with any clinically significant systemic disease (e.g. insulin-dependent diabetes) or any contraindication to being pregnant and/or carrying a pregnancy to term; also including subjects with non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)
- •An active substance abuser
- •Subjects with known infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B or C virus in the trial subject or her male partner
- •Subjects who have simultaneously participated in another clinical trial
Arms & Interventions
Group I: Chronic Low dose Protocol
Gonal-f will be injected on the second or third day of a spontaneous or progestogen-induced menstrual cycle (Day 0), with a daily dose of 75 International Units (IU) for 7 days. Ovarian response will be assessed on Day 7 of stimulation by ultrasound scan. If no follicle has reached at least 10 to 12 millimeter (mm) diameter, stimulation will be continued with the same dose for further 7 days. On Day 14 of stimulation, if no ovarian response is seen, the dose will be increased by 37.5 IU (total 112.5 IU) and administered for the next 7 days. Subsequent increments of 37.5 IU, at intervals of 7 days up to Day 35 of stimulation would be made, depending on ovarian response.
Intervention: Recombinant FSH (follitropin alpha) (Drug)
Group II: Low dose Protocol
Gonal-f will be administered on the second or third day of a spontaneous or progestogen-induced menstrual cycle (Day 0), with a daily dose of 75 IU for 7 days. Ovarian response will be assessed on Day 7 of stimulation by ultrasound scan. If no follicle has reached at least 10 to 12 mm diameter, the dose will be increased by 37.5 IU (total 112.5 IU) and administered for the next 7 days. Subsequent increments of 37.5 IU, at intervals of 7 days up to Day 35 of stimulation will be made, depending on ovarian response.
Intervention: Recombinant FSH (follitropin alpha) (Drug)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Percentage of Participants With a Mono-follicular Development
Time Frame: Day 0 (first dose) up to Days 35-42 post human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG] administration (end of stimulation cycle {less than or equal to [<=] 35 days})
Mono-follicular development was defined as the development of only 1 follicle of greater than or equal to (\>=) 17 millimeter (mm) diameter and no more than 2 other follicles larger than 14 mm in diameter at or before Days 35-42 of stimulation period assessed by means of a transvaginal ultrasound scan.
Secondary Outcomes
- Number of Participants With Multi-follicular Development(Day 0 (first dose) up to Days 35-42 post hCG administration (end of stimulation cycle {less than or equal to [<=] 35 days}))
- Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)(Day 0 (first dose) up to Days 35-42 post hCG administration (end of stimulation cycle {less than or equal to [<=] 35 days}))
- Number of Participants With Multiple Pregnancies(Day 0 (first dose) up to Days 35-42 post hCG administration (end of stimulation cycle {less than or equal to [<=] 35 days}))
- Number of Participants With Injection Tolerability(Day 0 (first dose) up to Days 35-42 post hCG administration (end of stimulation cycle {less than or equal to [<=] 35 days}))
- Number of Participants Who Received Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)(End of stimulation cycle (less than or equal to [<=] 35 days))
- Number of Participants With Cancelled Cycles(End of stimulation cycle (less than or equal to [<=] 35 days))
- Number of Participants With Clinical Pregnancies(Day 0 (first dose) up to Days 35-42 post hCG administration (end of stimulation cycle {less than or equal to [<=] 35 days}))
- Duration of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)(End of stimulation cycle (less than or equal to [<=] 35 days))
- Total Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Dose(End of stimulation cycle (less than or equal to [<=] 35 days)
- Number of Participants Who Answered Ease of Use of Gonal-f® Pen Questionnaire(On hCG administration day (end of stimulation cycle {less than or equal to [<=] 35 days}))